Late in the afternoon on September 9, employees at a Target in Marlborough noticed two people walking out of the store with items they believed they did not pay for. They immediately notified the authorities to report the incident. Since the suspects were still in the area, officers from the Marlborough Police Department quickly headed to the location. It was reported that the pair first went to a nearby Starbucks, and then to a pizza restaurant. The officers saw a man and a woman crossing the highway together, and they believed they were the individuals who had taken merchandise from Target.
When the police tried to approach them, they both ran off, but only the man was caught. While interacting with the 22-year-old, officers reported that he became combative. They also said they saw him put a baggie in his mouth, and when they retrieved it, it contained smaller bags that allegedly held cocaine and fentanyl.